Aronson dazzles for St. Bernard's

Baseball: Bernardians advance in Division 4 Central Mass tournament

St. Bernard's Matt Aronson delivers a pitch during the first round of the Bernardians Division 4 Central Mass tournament win over West Boylston. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Ashley Green)

FITCHBURG -- Matt Aronson admitted he had the nervous jitters after finding out he was going to be the starting pitcher in St. Bernard's Central Mass. Division 4 playoff opener.

The junior sure didn't pitch like he was fighting the nervous butterflies.

The hard-throwing righty scattered three hits and whiffed eight in a masterful complete-game performance, as seventh-seeded St. Bernard's edged No. 10 West Boylston, 1-0, in first-round action Thursday at Holman Field.

"It was the first playoff start of my life," Aronson said. "I just went out with the mentality that I had to destroy the other team. I had to work hard and get up in the count early, and that's what I did."

"I brought it this game. We have a good club and we know we have the potential to win the entire thing, so me being a part of this with my pitching feels good."

Lions (12-7) lefty Alec Tata was equally impressive, but was the tough-luck loser. The southpaw went the distance, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

"Both pitchers did an outstanding job, both deserved to win," St. Bernard's coach Jim Beauregard said.

St. Bernard's will face Bromfield on Monday in a quarterfinal.

Senior catcher Connor Wironen had the best seat in the house to watch Aronson deal.

"Best game of his career, easily," Wironen said. "He hit spots. Curveball was on, changeup was on. Everything was on. He showed up big-time when we needed him.

The Bernardians (13-8) finally came through with the clutch knock in the third inning.

Max Bigelow started the frame off with a bloop single down the right-field line, and Wironen followed with a free pass. Bigelow later got gunned down at home on an attempted double-steal, but third baseman T.J. Cooper came up clutch by booming a two-out, RBI double into the left-center gap, giving St. B's the only run of the game.

"I felt the contact on the bat, it hit the sweet spot on the bat," Cooper said. "I was amped to be on the scoreboard. It was zero-zero for a long time, so it was stressful."

St. Bernard's defense, when needed, also delivered.

Second baseman Connor Malone started a 4-6-3 double play to end the fourth inning, and Ryan Fillebrown made a great scoop on a low throw at first base for the second out of the seventh inning.

It certainly was a solid all-around game for the Bernardians.

"We've been telling the kids all year that when you get to the tournament it's all about pitching and defense and situational hitting," Beauregard said. "We did all three of them today. It was a good win against a very good team."

Cooper and James Xarras each had doubles for St. Bernard's, while Nash Bourn laced a two-bagger for the Lions in the second inning.

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